4
TIGER WOODS v
ROCCO MEDIATE
(2008 US Open)
Tiger Woods effectively played –
and won – the 2008 US Open at
Torrey Pines on one leg, hobbling
his way to a Monday victory over
Rocco Mediate.
Woods battled through two stress
fractures in his tibia and was forced
to deal with a knee that would soon
require reconstruction – not to
mention the body blows repeatedly
being dealt out by an on-song
Mediate. Tiger made a clutch birdie
putt at the 18th to force what would
become the final 18-hole playoff in
championship history. ►
5
TIGER WOODS v
CHRIS DIMARCO
(2005 Masters)
Mention the 2005 Masters to any golf fan
and their mind will instantly go to Tiger
Woods and the 16th hole.
Most observers tend to agree it
was probably the greatest chip shot
ever played. But it was also part of a
tremendous showdown between Woods
and Chris DiMarco – which lasted all the
way to the 72nd hole and beyond (into
a playoff), before Tiger
claimed his fourth green
jacket with an 18-foot
birdie putt on the first
extra hole.
6
PAYNE STEWART v
PHIL MICKELSON
(1999 US Open)
Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh threw their
hats in the ring, but it was Stewart and
Mickelson, the latter awaiting the birth
of his first child, who were the main
combatants at Pinehurst.
Stewart began the final day leading
by one before Phil drew level at the
12th. However, the 1991 champion’s
par-birdie-par finish to Mickelson’s
bogey-par-par was enough for victory
by one, with his 15-foot putt at the last
punctuated by Stewart’s
famous celebration.
Stewart tragically passed
away four months later.
COVER STORY